Hazard (41 page)
Authors: Gerald A. Browne
When it was over, when Pinchon's nose was fractured, split open and laid like a flap on his cheek, when Pinchon's jawbone was broken and out of line, when Pinchon's eyes were beaten shut and the ridges of his brows gashed deep enough to scar, Catherine still remained unmoved.
Blubbering, bloody Pinchon. Hazard looked down on him and told him, “Get a plastic surgeon, have him fix it. I'll be around to mess it up again.”
That had caused Catherine to smile.
Now, only twenty-five kilometers to Avignon and dark enough for headlights.
Hazard wondered what Keven would be doing when he got there. He pictured her looking out at the rain, munching on pumpkin seeds and raisins and wishing time would hurry.
His own eagerness made him glance frequently at the kilometer indicator. The last ten seemed like a thousand, but finally the turn-off was just ahead. He slowed to take it.
And there she was.
Just standing there, waiting, under a dripping tree at the foot of the hill. She was drenched, her wet blouse adhering, her hair soaked flat to her head.
“Nasty night,” she said, getting in.
No surprise. No big hello, or big hello kiss, or anything, as though he hadn't even been away. She couldn't possibly have known he was coming. He still didn't want to believe she was
that
tapped in on his mind, although â¦
He drove up to the Auberge.
“My timing was slightly off,” she said.
⦠although, if she was, thought Hazard, at least he'd never have to ask for certain things.
Up in the suite she went immediately into the bathroom to take off her wet clothes. He sat in a chair, waiting.
“Julie had the baby,” she said from in there.
“You heard from Kersh?”
“This afternoon. They had a girl.”
She came out toweling her hair. “We've got real rain on the roof tonight. How about that?” She stood before the dresser, her back to him, seemingly preoccupied with getting her hair dry.
He wanted her to come to him, deliver herself, bring her soft, lean body to him. He sat still, then without a word got up and went to her, put his arms gently around her from behind.
Now was the time to tell her.
“By the way,” she said, smiling, turning within his embrace so they were pressed front to front. “I got your last message.”
About the Author
Gerald A. Browne is the
New York Times
âbestselling author of ten novels including
11 Harrowhouse
,
19 Purchase Street
, and
Stone 588
. His bookshave been translated into more than twenty languages, and several have been made into films. He attended the University of Mexico, Columbia University, and the Sorbonne, and has worked as a fashion photographer, an advertising executive, and a screenwriter. He lives in Southern California.
All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Lines from “It Was A Good Time” (Rosy's Theme) from the MGM film,
Ryan's Daughter
. Reprinted by permission of Leo Feist Inc.
Copyright © 1973 by Pulse Productions, Inc.
Cover design by Jason Gabbert
ISBN: 978-1-4532-6836-0
This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.
345 Hudson Street
New York, NY 10014
EBOOKS BY GERALD A. BROWNE
FROM OPEN ROAD MEDIA
